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About Philippines
Visa Requirement
Nationals of countries which have diplomatic relations with the Philippines are generally allowed entry into the
country without securing a temporary visitor’s visa from the Consulate if their stay does not exceed twenty-one
(21) days. Visitors availing of this no-visa privilege must enter the Philippine for tourism purpose and must hold
a round-trip or onward travel airline ticket, which must be presented before Philippine immigration authorities
upon arrival at the port of entry in the Philippines.
U.S. passport holders are covered under this rule. If the intended stay in the Philippines is beyond 21 days, an
application for a temporary visa must be filed at the Consulate.
There are nationals of other countries who are classified as Restricted Nationals by the Philippine Government.
These Restricted Nationals are not entitled to the 21-day no-visa privilege and must apply for a temporary visa.
Contact the nearest Embassy/Consulate Visa Section to inquire whether your country of nationality falls under
this category.
Returning balikbayan may enter the Philippines without a visa and stay for a period one (1) year for tourism
purposes. Under the Balikbayan Program (Republic Act 6788) of the Philippine government, the term
balikbayan includes:
1. A Filipino citizen who has been continuously out of the country for a period of at least one (1) year from
date of last departure;
2. A Filipino overseas worker;
3. A former Filipino citizen and his family members as this term is defined hereunder, who has been naturalized
in a foreign country and comes or returns to the Philippines provided that the former Filipino citizen can show proof
of his or her former Philippine citizenship (e.g. old/cancelled Philippine passport, Birth Certificate, or naturalization
papers) upon arrival in the Philippines.
Foreigner spouses and children travelling with the former Filipino citizens may avail of this privilege by presenting
before immigration officials legal documents establishing relationship with the former Filipino citizen upon arrival in
the Philippines. These documents could either be a Marriage Certificate (for spouses) or Birth Certificate (for children).
This privilege can only be availed of by family members/relatives if they are traveling to the Philippines together with
the balikbayan (former Filipino).
(The term "family" shall mean the spouse and the children of the balikbayan who are not balikbayans in their own right
traveling with the latter to the Philippines).
The authorized maximum period of stay granted by the Philippine Consulate to all temporary visitor’s visa applicants is
fifty-nine (59) days. If the applicant will stay beyond 59 days in the Philippines, an application for extension of stay
must be filed at the Bureau of Immigration in Manila, or the Immigration office nearest to the place where the applicant
is temporarily residing.
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